Sunday’s game was peculiar for myriad reasons.

From the 12:15 p.m. start to accommodate the Peacock broadcast to the second name announced in pregame introductions. The name itself wasn’t as surprising as the position he played.

At 12:10, the kid public address announcer — Sundays are kids day at Nationals Park — said the words, “Starting at second baseman, CJ Abrams.”

The one familiar thing was the Nationals’ unreliable bullpen imploding in the 6-2 loss to the Marlins. But the unusual aspect of the game was that Abrams — who started for the National League at shortstop in the All-Star Game — finally played second after manager Blake Butera announced the move Aug. 14.

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Even when Abrams strolled to the plate and did his customary prepitch routine after “La Introduccion” blared over the PA system, the unusual feeling didn’t dissipate.

Though the move had been anticipated for weeks, it was still jarring to see Abrams run out to second base to begin the day while Nasim Nuñez — a stout defender — manned shortstop.

Fans chanted Abrams’ name after he made a leaping, inning-ending grab in the sixth, and he was quick turning a double play earlier in the game. All in all, his debut was a short-term success.

But Sunday’s game is a demarcation point. It’s either the beginning of a new era or the point when things dissolved between Abrams and the Nationals. Flipping him to second base in a vacuum is the right move for the Nationals. Among shortstops, he’s tied for last in outs above average (-17) with the Giants’ Willy Adames.

The timing shocked the baseball industry. The Nationals are firmly out of the wild-card race. Making this move before the trade deadline would’ve made more sense than in late August, when the team is just trying to finish the season strong and build momentum for next year.

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Butera and the front office put careful consideration into the decision. The decision is not easily reversible. Once you tell Abrams he’s a second baseman for the rest of the season, you have to be committed to seeing the switch through. But the position change is more delicate than moving a left fielder to right field or a third baseman to first base.

Playing shortstop has a lot of similarities to the quarterback position in the NFL. It’s an identity as much as it’s a position. You don’t just play shortstop; you are a shortstop. For Abrams, it’s the only position he’s known. Shifting from that spot is as much of a mental adjustment as it is a physical change.

Even after Butera announced the decision, Abrams reiterated that he views himself as a shortstop for the long term. His explosive offensive numbers — along with those of fellow All-Star James Wood — played a significant role in the Nationals grabbing the rest of the league’s attention and changing the conversation surrounding the downtrodden franchise.

Top infield prospect Seaver King is the closest player to the minors from the farm system, but he’s still got to improve his consistency at the position. Eli Willits is a sure-handed defender, but he’s years away from impacting the big league club.

Messing with this season’s tranquility seemed like a self-inflicted mistake on the part of the front office. The move has ramifications beyond this season. Abrams will be a free agent after the 2028 season and wants to be billed as a shortstop because playing a premium defensive position could theoretically result in a larger contract.

The team clearly values Abrams’ offensive production, which is among the league’s best — he’s fifth in RBIs, 22nd in wRC+ and tied for 14th in homers. But now how do he and the Nationals move forward? Abrams wants to play shortstop, but it’s clear the organization doesn’t view him as one.